Expansion valve



@ec. 9, i92 1,518,984

' E. T. KIEN EXPANS I ON VALVE Filed Fb 15} 1922 I I gwben'foz Edward T Kien.

Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES -1,518,984 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD T. KIEN, OF ELMHURST, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR- ONE-FOURTH T0 W. M. HABDWICK AND ONE-FOURTH TO EMMETT S. NEWTON, BOTH 0F CHATTANOOGA,

TENNESSEE.

EXPANSION VALVE.

Application filed February 15, 1922. Serial No. 536,736.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that L-EDWARD T. KIEN,

valve intended primarily for use in connection with refrigerating apparatus. The main object of the invention'is to provide a device of the character indicated which shall be quick and positive in its action so that it may open promptly when the suction of the refrigerating machine starts to pump the liquid which is to be changed into a gaseous state and which shall promptly cut off the flow of liquid on cessation of suction in the refrigerating apparatus. 1

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof and'on which similar reference characters indicate similar arts,

Flgure 1 indicates a vertical section of my device,

Figure 2 is a detail of a valve, and Figure 3 a detail of a sleeve surrounding said valve.

In the drawing reference character 10 in dicates the upper section of the outer casing of the valve and 11 the lower section. A diaphragm 12 preferably composed of sheet bronze is interposed between the two sections of the casin and held in place by a circular series of rass screws 13 only two of which are indicated on the drawing. At the center of the diaphragm there are a pair of brass reenforcing plates 14 one at each side of the diaphragm.

A spring 15 contacts at one end with the upper of said brass plates and at its other en enters a cupped portion of the member .10. The upper end of the spring is seated in an inverted cup 16 at the upper end of which is a spacer 17' separating the cup from an adjusting screw 18. This screw has a central passage 19 communicating with the atmosphere and at its lower end is provided with radiating passages'20 leading from the center passage 19 to the upper chamber of the valve.

The lower chamber of the valve is in communication with the suction side of the refrigerating apparatus by means of a passage 21. A "passage 22 leads into said chamber and liquefied sulphur dioxide or other refrigerating medium is supplied to the chamber by said passage. A valve 23 is spring pressed to rest against a seat at 24 and shut off the flow of the refrigerating medium. A spring 25 tends to close the valve and this spring is adjusted by a nut 26 in a threaded bore on the casing member 11. A fiber washer 30 is held in a cap 27 threaded on the casing and these parts form a gas-tight closure for the nipple 31 in which the spring works.

The valve 23 has a grooved or channeled stem 28 (Figure 2- and is rounded at its upper end which ears against the lower plate 14 (Figure 1). A perforated sleeve 29 surrounds the valve stem and is slidably located in a bore-on the casing 11 extending upwardly from valve seat 24:.

In operation of the device the refrigerating machinery will as usual exert a suction effect on the lower chamber through passage 21 while the refrigerating fluid which has been compressed, condensed and liquefied after passing through the refrigerating apparatus is adapted to be drawn into such compartment through passage 22. Assuming the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere to be 72 Fahrenheit the pressure of SO in the passage 22' (assuming this compound to be used) will be about 28 pounds perv square inch. The spring. 25 reenforced by this pressure closes the valve 23. 'When the operation of the refrigerating apparatus is resumed a suction is immediately created in the lower chamber and this tends to flex the diaphragm 12 downward which action is assisted. by the spring 15 and as soon as these factors are sufficient to overcome the action of spring 25 and the pressure of the refrigerant, the valve 23 will be lowered to open a passage for the liquid which is to be'turned into gas. This liquid passes through channels 28 in the valve stem and then outward through the perforations of sleeve 29.

The vacuum which would otherwise be created in the upper chamber is relieved by air coming in through passage 19, and the movement of the diaphragm in both direc' tions is cushioned by the air in the chamber. The .cup 16 serves to guide the spring 15 and the plate 17 prevents undue wear on the end of the cup. Tn like manner the plates 14-44: prevent undue wear on the diaphragm l2 and this diaphragm is made of metal which will not be acted on by the refrigerating medium as are also the plates 14 and screws 13.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that my device as above shown may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention, the true scope of which is indicated in the appended claims. I

Having thus fully described my saidfiinvention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An expansion valve for refrigerating machinery and the like comprising a chamber, a passage for liquefied refrigerant leading thereto, a passage for gas leading from the chamber to the refrigerating apparatus, a valve normally closing said passage, said valve having a grooved stem and a perforated sleeve surrounding said stem, substantially as set forth.

2. An expansion valve for refrigerating machinery and the like comprising a chamber, a passage for liquefied refrigerant leading thereto, a passage for gas leading from the chamber to the refrigerating apparatus, a valve normally closing said first passage, said valve having a stem grooved intermediate its ends, a perforated sleeve surrounding the slotted portion and communicating with said chamber, substantially as set forth.

3. An expansion valve for refrigerating machinery and the like comprising a. chamber, a passage for liquefied refrigerant leading thereto, a passage for gas leading from the chamber to the refrigerating apparatus, a valve normally closing the first passage and having a stem extending upwardinto the chamber said stem having longitudinal grooves between its ends, a perforated sleeve' surrounding said grooved portion said sleeve being fixed to the stem to move therewith, a diaphragm extending across the chamber and contacting with the end of the valve stem whereby the suction of the refrigerating apparatus can move the stem and sleeve to open the valve, substantially as set forth. v

4. In a spraying device, apassage for liquid, a valve therein having a grooved stem, a perforated sleeve about the stem, and means for elevating and depressing the valve, substantially as set forth.

5. In a. spraying device, a passage for liquid, a valve therein having a grooved stem, a perforated sleeve about the stem, means for seating the valve including an adjustable spring thereunder, and means for unseating the valve, substantially as set forth.

6. An expansion valve comprising a casing, a diaphragm in the casing, a passage adapted to break up the liquid into a spray,

substantially as set forth.

7. An expansion valve comprising a casing, a diaphragm in the casing, a passage for liquid into the casing, a valve in said passage having longltudinal grooves therein and a diffusing device surrounding said grooves, substantially as set forth.

8. An expansion valve for refrigerating apparatus comprising a lower chamber, my

upper chamber, a diaphragm between said chambers, a passage in the wall of the lower to admit liquid thereto, a longitudinally grooved valve body in said passage, spring means for holding said valve body against its seat and a perforated sleeve surrounding said valve body for spraying the liquid into the lower chamber, substantially as set forth.

' 9. An expansion valve comprising a twopart oval shaped casing, a flexible diaphragm clamped between the sections of said casing forming upper and lower chambers, a passage for liquid in the bottom of said lower casing located substantially at right angles to the diaphragm said passage havlng an enlarged annular bevelled portion forming a valve seat, a second passage leading from the exterior intov said first mentioned passage slightly below said valve seat, a spring pressed longitudinally grooved valve body in said first mentioned passage said valve body having a head normally held in engagement with said valve seat and having its opposite end contacting said diaphragm, a perforated sleeve surrounding the rooves in said valve body for spraying the liquid into the interior of the valve body, a spring on the opposite side of said diaphragm for limiting the movement of the diaphragm, a cupabout the outer end of said spring and an adjusted screw bearing against said cup said adjusting screw having a passage communicating with the exterior for admitting air into the interior of the valve body for cushioning the vibrations of said diaphragm, substantially asset forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Elmhurst, Illinois, this 8th day of February, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-two.

EDWARD T. KIEN. [n s.]

Witnesses:

ALONzo G. FISCHER, Lorrrs J. GOEBEL. 

